AFGE Applauds FPS Move Out of ICE

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Washington, D.C. ,
Press Release ,
D.C. Government

(WASHINGTON)—The American Federation of Government Employees today cheered the official transfer to the Federal Protective Service out of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and into the National Protection and Programs Directorate.

AFGE has for years urged the White House and Congress to take FPS out from under ICE’s authority.

“AFGE is grateful that President Obama, DHS Secretary Napolitano and Congress heard us on the dire need for this change to take place,” AFGE National President John Gage said. “AFGE Local 918, led by President David Wright, led this hard-fought effort, and should be applauded for its courage in bringing countless issues to the table.”

“All that happened under ICE was that FPS was starved of all its resources, morale plummeted and attrition rose. FPS and ICE attempted to change the FPS law enforcement Mission to Policy Compliance and oversight of contract guards,” Wright said.

“We believe that NPPD is a far more appropriate home for this beleaguered agency and the nation will see a stronger, more effective FPS under the new leadership,” he added. “AFGE looks forward to worKing with FPS and NPPD management to restore staffing levels for FPS law enforcement officers, and rebuild this beleaguered agency.”

AFGE Local 918 is a national local that represents FPS employees across the country.

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The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 700,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.